Fully Funded Farm Visits for SEND School Children and Home Educated

Talons is based on a farm, near Looe in Cornwall. Working alongside the farmer, we have been successful in applying for a grant to fund free farm visits for school children (including home educated) with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND). The funding is from The Rural Payments Agency as part of their Educational Access scheme. This scheme ‘allows for SEND pupils to visit the farm to learn, understand and become engaged with farming and the environment’.

The farm keeps a flock of sheep, a herd of alpacas, two Shire Horses and a Clydesdale (predecessors to the tractor!) and chicken and ducks, alongside the less traditional inmates of the Talons’ animal sanctuary. The focus of the fully funded farm visit for SEND children will be very much on conservation and the environment, with plenty of fun games and activities, together with the obligatory ‘meet and greet’ with some of the animals.

Talons care farm and animal sanctuary Cornwall

There is so much to see and do on your farm visit

Meet and learn about the farm animals. Who lives on the farm and why?
Visit our large pond, full of water dwelling creatures, for pond dipping fun. Who lives in the pond?
There is a ‘hide’ for bird spotting. What can you see flying in the sky?
Hedgerow detectives. What lives in the hedges, and why are hedges so important?
Wildlife encounters. There are some very special residents to meet and learn about.
Games and activities for fun learning.

Fully funded farm visits for SEND children – information:

Visits open to SEND children with an EHCP.
There is a minimum group size of four.
Home educated children welcome, but minimum group size of four applies.
We actively welcome SEND pupils, and will do everything we can to accommodate any child with a physical impairment – most of the site is wheelchair accessible.
The farm is near Looe (SE Cornwall), and is open from April to October for the fully funded SEND visits.
The visits are fully funded but the school is responsible for the cost of transport.
Due to a very narrow access lane, a minibus is the largest passenger vehicle we can accommodate.
There is a maximum of 24 persons (pupils, teachers, support staff) per visit.
Only essential teaching and support staff to accompany.
Children must bring their own food and drink.
Sensible outdoor clothing, with sturdy shoes must be worn.
We are fully insured and DBS checked.
We would advise that the organising teacher MUST visit us beforehand to confirm arrangements, and undertake a risk assessment.
A copy of the school’s insurance cover for external visits will be required for our records.